Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 227 PM EST Fri Dec 28 2018 Valid 00Z Sat Dec 29 2018 - 00Z Mon Dec 31 2018 ...Heavy precipitation returns for the Pacific Northwest and lingering rain near the Gulf Coast... Moderate to heavy rainfall will affect areas from the Florida Panhandle to the Mid-Atlantic region through Friday night. There is a marginal risk of flash flooding across parts of this region during that time. In addition, there is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms for the Southeast Coast, and the Storm Prediction Center has additional information on that. Northern New England can expect some mixed precipitation, with light snow and ice accumulations possible. This area is currently under winter weather advisories. A second winter storm currently underway is impacting New Mexico, and is expected to continue weakening through Saturday afternoon. The heaviest snowfall totals are expected across central and eastern New Mexico, where total amounts of a foot or more are possible across the higher terrain. Strong winds will also accompany the snowfall, with blizzard conditions possible at times. More rain and higher elevation snows are expected to move across the Pacific Northwest beginning late Friday and into Saturday. After a mild day across much of the eastern U.S. on Friday, readings are expected to return closer to normal for the upcoming weekend. Meanwhile, across the mountainous west and into the Plains, below normal temperatures persist through much of the short range period. The greatest departures are expected to be across the southern High Plains where daytime highs could be on the order of 20 degrees below normal. Hamrick/Reinhart Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php